SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version House Bill 2257 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2257


          (By Delegates Manypenny, Rowan and Fleischauer)
          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]




A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-21a, relating to the creation of a publicly available database that documents and maintains specific, up to date information on all horizontally drilled wells in the state.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-21a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6A. NATURAL GAS HORIZONTAL WELL CONTROL ACT.
§22-6A-21a. Public database of horizontally drilled wells; contents and accessibility.
_____(a) For all permits for horizontally drilled wells that exist on or following the effective date of this statute, the secretary shall forward all plats and data required by section twelve, article six, chapter twenty-two of this code, as modified pursuant to section fifteen, article six, chapter twenty-two of this code, if modified, to the United States Geological Survey and to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Further, the secretary shall forward any additional modifications or deviations made to plats and data following the initial permit, as soon as modifications are approved or agreed upon or variances granted, to the United States Geological Survey and to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.
_____(b) In addition to the information required under subsection (a) of this section, the secretary shall require from the well operator and forward to the United States Geological Survey and to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey for all permits for horizontally drilled wells that exist on or following the effective date of this statute, the following:
_____(1) The location of all wells, abandoned or otherwise located within five hundred feet of any well or lateral;
_____(2) Where available, the casing records of all such wells;
_____(3) Where available, the drilling log of all such wells;
_____(4) The maximum pressure to be introduced;
_____(5) The geologic formation into which such liquid or pressure is to be introduced;
_____(6) A general description of the liquids to be introduced;
_____(7) The location of all water-bearing horizons above and below the geological formation into which such pressure, liquid or waste is to be introduced; and
_____(8) Such other information as the secretary by rule may require.
_____(c) In the event a completed well deviates from the location as indicated on a plat or on a plat as modified but is not a deviation which requires approval of the secretary, the owner or operator of the well shall notify the secretary of this deviation and the precise location of the completed well. The secretary shall forward this information to the United States Geological Survey and to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey in addition to updating the database on the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's website.
_____(d) The secretary shall maintain a database on the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's website and available upon request that contains all information made available to the United States Geological Survey and the West Virginia Geological Survey pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.



     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a publicly accessible database of information relevant to all horizontally drilled wells.

     §22-6A-21a is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print